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late discoveries of the German physiologistshave elfected a signal overthrow of thesedoctrines, for these apparently indivisiblepninta have by means of improved in-struments been proved to possess a com-plete organization, as difficult to be ac- ‘counted for by the hypothesis of necessityas the human frame itself. This end was ‘obtained by the simple expedient of feedingthe animalcules with coloured liquids. Asolution of pure indigo is the most eligible !fluid, and great caution is requisite to pre-vent the introduction of any metallic or’medicinal pigment, for their destruction’would be the immediate consequence, andthe desired results could not be obtained.These precautions taken, a variety of ap-pearance was observed in the hithertoseemingly homogeneous globules. In some,numerous spots become evident; these arethe digestive cavities or stomach ; otherspresent a different character, and one di-

gestive cavity alone is exhibited. Theobserver succeeded in detecting a mouthand an anus, and the rudiments even of anervous system were perceived. The firstand most simple class is named polygestrica,from the great number of stomachs ; thesecond and more complicate is denominatedrotatoria, from the nature of their move-ments. Relating to the functions of thissecond class, numerous facts of great in-terest were ascertained. They were foundto exhibit all the principles of reproductionexemplified in other animals. Whendivided, each part, as in theplanaria genus,became a perfect animal. The propagationby germ or bud was also frequently ex-

emplified, and their ovicula had been dis.tinctly demonstrated. The interest of theseresearches will be enhanced, when it isstated, that these objects are so minute,that the space occupied by a single drop ofdistilled water is adequate to contain noless than five hundred millions, and that acubic inch would include eight hundredthousand millions, a number a thousandtimes greater than that representing’ thepopulation of the globe. Alr. Bell ap-pended some remarks on the tendencywhich the rash explication of natural plie -nomena, by a principle of necessity, es-

pecially in animated nature, has to debasethe character of philosophy, and to deprivethe mind of that exalted pleasure which itderives from the contemplation of infinitedesign.

CONTAGIOUSNESS OF CHOLERA.

REPLY TO SOME STATEMENTS MADE BY

DR. GILKREST.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SIR,—At the Westminster Medical So-

ciety, April 14tb, Dr. Gilkrest stated," That he had lately witnessed in Limehonse,

some circumstances which gave him additional cnn-fidence in his previous opinions. At a house inTile-yard, a man, called John Coffin (Cocklin),died of cholera, and the next day a girl in thesame house also fell a victim. Heing- Irish, ofcourse a " wakmg" took place. The bodies wereput on a table with merely a sheet over them, andfor seve. al days were continually surrounded bythe friends and relations. While ill, Coffin had beenvisited by his sister, brother-in-law, and severalothers ; the girl also had been seen repeatedly by

her father, mother, and friends, and the medicalmen had rubbed the body, but of the whole circleof these persons not one had taken the disease,although the circumstances spoken of occurred aweek ago. Now surely this could not be called acontagious disorder."

I think Dr. Gilkrest should first havestated, that Cocklin had attended the wakeof the first case, in White’s Rents, wherehe also lived, but removed to Tile-yard toescape the disease ; and that on the 21st ofFebruarv he was attacked and died on the25th. The girl, Julia Donnie, did not diethe day after Cocklin, but was in and out ofthe room constantly where he lay, and sleptin an adjoining apartment. She was at-

tacked on February the 24th, at eighto’clock a. m., and died at eight p. m., pre-violls to the death of Cocklin. The wake

only continued two days. Cocklin’s sistervisited him, and was attacked with severediarrhœa. Mrs. Mavhoney, living in Pop-lar, who took an active part in rubbing thegirl Donnie, was attacked with the disease,and died. Her daughter, Judith Carter,living in Limehouse.fields, a distance ofhalf a mile, came to see her, was attackedon the 3rd March, and died on the 6th.Mrs. Mayhoney’s niece, who attended onher, was attacked and removed to PoplarHospital ; another niece also, who was al-lowed to attend on her sister in the hos-

pital, and who al.-so attended on her aunt,was attacked, and both of them, after goinginto a collapse, and having a very hard

, struaale, recovered.It was stated, I understand, to Dr. Gil-

krest, that the medical gentleman who ac-companied him to the house of Cocklin,and who was one of those who were rubbingthe girl Donnie, was then labouring underdiarrhoea, and the two following days was soill that he could not leave his chamber.The above circumstances are detailed as

particularly as this space will admit. Theywill be seen to be very contrary to thosestated by Dr. Gilkrest. At the same time

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let it b? clearly understood, that mv object :is, not to contend for or against contagion,but that truth may be taid before the me-dical world, and tliat no one, whose opiuiouis already tormad, may lav betore othersincorrect statements.

1 am, Sir, your obedient Servant,VERITAS.*

* This -. signature has been property autheaticated.—ED. L.

WESTMINSTER MEDICAL SOCIETY.

WILLIAM BARRETT MARSHALL,Assist. Surgeon, R.N.

To the Eclitor of THE LANCET.SIR,—Permit me to correct a mistake in

the last LANCET’s report of what fell frommy lips at the Westminster Medical Societyon Saturday se’nnight.

I did not allege, as that report states,*’ That the Doco’ was standing off Lime-house, with vessels close alongside her, andnot one case ha I yet occurred in them,"and for th s very obvious reason, that Iknew to the direct contrary of both theseassertions,—there being no vessels along-side H. lI. S. Dover, and one case havingoccurred in the tier immediately belcw thespot occupied by her.What 1 did affirm was this. Although

H. M. S. Dover had lair. so long a time inthe river with cholera patients on board, thewind Mowing from every point of the com-pass, and her boats and oflicers and crew,passing and re-passing in all directions, forthe greater part of that time, no case of cho.lera had occurred in the tier eitiier above orbelow us,.or in the neighbourhood directlyabreast, until very recently, when cne pa-tient was sent from a vlOsscl in the next tierbelow us, and assistance was requested fora boy who had worked in the manufactorythat overlooks us from the shore.As the error which I wish to correct in-

volves a matter of fact, and upon a subjectin which no doubt you desire only to recordstatements that are true, it may not be ex-pecting too much to requcsty ou, in any wayyou please, to alter your reporter’s recordof what I did not say, to an account of whatI did sav.

I am also reported to home made men-tion of the fatigue undergone by the nursesand medico attendants in this institution.Had the gentleman’s words who precededme been taken down also, it would havebeen seen that I only o spoke in answer tothe gratuitous assumption that we have hadnothing to do one. half of our time ; and thistoo in part explanation (!) of the curiousand interesting fact, that a large majorityof those resident on board, and in attend-ance on the patients, were attacked with

the premonitory symptoms of cholera mor.bus, and some with diarrhoea.

I know the respect due to the Westmin-ster Medical Society, and permit me to say,due also to my own character, too well tobring forward in public any account of themanner in which duty is done, when I mustbe myself included iu the number of thosespoken of-unless, as in this instance, forthe purpose of demolishing a theory whichhad need of misrepresentation to support it,although I believed that misrepresentationto be innocent.

I have the honour to be, Sir,Your very humble Servant,

WILLIAM BARRETT- MARSIIALL,Assist. Surgeon, R.N.

M. M. S. DoM)’, River Thames,April 16, 1832.

REPLY TO THE COMPLAINT AGAINST

DR. SIGMOND.

G. G. SIOMOND.

To the Editor of TilE LANCET.SIR,—The assertion made by one of your

correspondents, calling himself ; Pupil ofthe Little Windmill-street School, that Ihave not lectured for some weeks on theMateria Medica, is not true. In compliancewith the wish of the gentlemen formingthe class, I changed the day and hour of

lecturing,’ to enable them to attend theCourse delivered at the Royal College ofSurgeons.Having within the last week received

from my pupils the most flattering tes-

timony of their kind feeling towards me,accompanied with the most marked ex.

pression of their satisfaction, I am the moresurprised at the letter which you have in-serted. I have only further to observe,that as I have at all times received at myown house any pupil who has been pre-vented attending my public lectures, itwould have been more creditable to thewriter had he personally applied to me,instead of anonymously seeking redressthrough the channel of your columns.

I have the honour to be, Sir,Your obedient servant,

G. G. SIGMOND.24, Dover-street, April 20th, 1832.

CORRESPONDENTS, &c.

COMMUNICATIONS have been received!’r(,in J. F.—Mr. Mart—Mr. Gurney-C. E.-ASubscriber (Mr. B.)-Dr. Englaml (some weekssince)—Amor Mercurti—Mr. J. Wal6er-DIr. W.Wilson—Dr. Whitelaw Ainslie-Mr. Marshall—Mr. W. Birtwhistme—Mr. S. Millard—A Naval Sur-eon.A Surgeon’s Apprentice. With the quali-

fication mentioned, he can practise, either in theCanadas or the United States.